Around 12:30 h, Nguyen Thi Quynh, who was working on a hillside about 2 km from the explosion site, reported hearing a very loud explosion. The ground shook, and after one or two minutes, fire erupted. A white smoke plume, hundreds of meters high, covered the sky.

Smoke rising after the explosion in Lao Cai. Photo: Nguyen Quynh.

Tang Loong Commune People's Committee officials confirmed an explosion occurred in the area, and forces are currently assessing the damage.

Tang Loong is one of Lao Cai's key industrial centers, spanning approximately 1,100 hectares. Established in 2011, this industrial park has attracted dozens of investment projects in sectors such as chemicals, fertilizer production, metallurgy, and mineral processing, creating jobs for thousands of workers.

Gia Chinh